News

That's A Wrap: Analysis of Portland vs FC Dallas

PORTLAND – FC Dallas knew that Portland would want to avenge the 5-0 rout they suffered at the hands of FCD just two weeks ago, though it was Dallas broke the deadlock in the second half and looked to be in control. As has been the story a few times this season, an ill-timed red card doomed FC Dallas to a disappointing 1-1 draw to the Western Conference’s bottom side. Here are the three moments that shaped this game at a steamy Jeld-Wen Field that felt like FC Dallas Stadium on a Frisco summer evening.

1) FC Dallas broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half in a bit of déjà vu. Brek Shea and David Ferreira combined for two goals in the last FCD game at Portland and history repeated itself, though the goal scorer was different. Ferreira played a wonderfully-weighted ball to Shea who found Scott Sealy crashing the goal and the Trinidad and Tobago native made no mistake tucking the ball into the side netting. It’s the second straight game that Sealy has scored in a game against Portland while Shea bagged his first assist of the season.

2) FCD fans were still celebrating Sealy’s goal when Dallas was sent down to ten men for the fifth time this season. Zach Loyd was shown a yellow card for tripping Diego Chara in the first half and the defender picked up a second yellow dragging down Franck Songo’o in the 52nd minute. Both yellows seemed to be a little soft, as much of the FCD players would lament after the game, but Loyd’s tug was clumsy for a player already on a yellow card. FC Dallas is 0-4-1 this season when going down to ten men.

3) The inevitable Timbers equalizer was held off by some heroic Dallas defending from Kevin Hartman, George John and Matt Hedges, but finally happened in the 79th minute. Hartman had just made an incredible save to deny Danny Mwanga and punched away Khalif Alhassan’s cross, but the ball fell to Jack Jewsbury. The Timbers captain fantastically volleyed in the rebound which had just enough speed to beat Hartman and earn the Timbers a point.